Handling apparatus



1941- l D. J. SULLIVAN I HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21, 1939 Daniel J Su Ilivarz BY IlVZ-TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented. Nov. 25, 1941 stares ear as rain 4 Claims.

This invention relates to handling devices for heavy materials, such as structural steel, rails, and the like, and it has particular reference to apparatus for operating in conjunction withcranes, hoists, and other lifting machines em-' ployed in steel mills and in connection with the attendant operations upon structural steel 1- beams, and its principal object resides in the provision of a grappling device adapted to be operated by a cable and automatically grip and hold heavy objects, such as steel beams, for removal from one place to another or in placing such beams in a structure.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of handling devices of the character described which can be economically constructed yet. adapted to application to different sizes of structural steel, greatly increasin the efhciency and safety of such operations.

Broadly, the-invention seeks to comprehend the provision of an automatic grappling device capable of being brought into contact with a steel beam or rail and automatically grip the same for lifting and moving from one part of the plant to another or in placing the material in structural positions for assembly yet afiording greater efficiency and safety in such operations.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of the invention shown grappling an I-beam and showing apertion cut away illustrating one of the spools over which the cable is passed and illustrating, in dotted lines, the jaws in open position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention showing a locking ring positioned over the jaws designed to retain the jaws in closed position upon the work.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the cable spools employed in the device, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the adjustable grips through the operative ends of the jaws.

The conventional method of handling heavy beams, of the character herein mentioned, consists of applying to the beams a heavy chain or cable and hooks are used to engage the same for lifting with a hoist or crane and such method is not only slow and tedious but very often hazardous. The object of the invention, therefore, is that of providing a more effective apparatus by which such materials can be handled eliminating much of the hazards erations.

Accordingly, therefore, the invention consists primarily of a pair of frame members I spaced apart by sleeves 2 through which bolts 3 are arranged and secured by nuts 4. A pair ofopposingly arranged grappling jaws 5 are pivoted at their upper ends to the bolts 3, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in such a manner as to permit their cooperative movement, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The toes or flukes a at the operative ends of the jaws Eare provided with integral lugs 6 projecting laterally therefrom and which are drilled to threa-dedly receive set screws 1 providing grips for the purpose of engaging the under side of steel beams, and the like, as illustrated in Figure 1. The engaging ends of the set screws 1 are concave or recessed at 8, as shown in Figure 4, providing the gripping contact. The members I may obviously be threaded inwardly and outwardly and thus adjusted to operate efficiently on different types of work.

The structure shown in Figure 1 illustrates the lug 6 integral with only one side member of the jaw 5, the portion of the jaw shown cut away being adapted to engage the end of the lug 6 and retained in position thereagainst by a bolt extending through spool 9 which rotates upon the bolt and is grooved to receive a cable ID. The fluke a on this member is cut away to show the lug 6. The spool 9 is illustrated in detail in Figure 3.

The cable H! is attached to one of the sleeves 2 and secured by a clamp, as shown in Figure 1, and is passed upwardly and over any desired support I), such as a hook, or the like, attached to a block and tackle (not shown) or over a pulley connected to a crane. The cable is then passed down around both of the pulleys or spools 9 in the operative ends of the jaws 5 thence again around the support b, and its opposite end is attached to the opposite sleeve 2.

In operation the device is applied to a beam, such as that shown in Figure l, by expanding or opening the jaws 5 and permitting the apparatus to be lowered over and around the object to be raised and the jaws 5 closed on each side thereof. In lifting a beam, therefore, the operative ends a of the jaws extend beneath the flanges on each side of the beam and when the slack is taken out of the cable Ill the latter bears against the top of the beam, by reason of its connection to the pulleys 9, as illustrated in Figure 1, providing a safe grip upon the object, the concave faces connected with such op- 8 of the set screws I tightly engaging the metal to prevent slippage. Thus, the object grappled by the device is securely held so long as tension is applied by the weight of the object to the cable ID, the greater the tension on the cable It the tighter the grip on the object grappled by the jaws 5.

In releasing the invention from the object, the device is lowered to its final position and the cable slacked to enable the jaws 5 to open in the manner shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

It is sometimes desirable to lock the jaws 5 upon the device even when the cable is used in the manner illustrated and a collar or ring Il may be provided to be passed downwardly over the jaws 5, as shown in Figure 2, to insure their engagement with the object supported by the device. The cable may simply be secured to the sleeve 2 when the member I I is employed but the latter may be used, as stated, with the cable I B to insure greater safety and efliciency. The collar l I is preferably oblong or rectangular in shape to be freely passed over the jaws 5 and retain the latter in engagement with the object by its own weight.

Manifestly, the invention is capable of considerable changes and modifications by those versed in the art, and such changes and modifications as may be considered within the spirit and intent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a handling device for heavy beams, and the like, a pair of grappling jaws pivotally con nected at their upper ends by a frame structure. adjustable means comprising set screws arranged in the operative ends of the said jaws adapted to securely engage anundersurface of the work engaged by the said jaws, a supporting cable for the said device having its ends secured to the pivots of the said jaws and arranged around pulleys pivoted near the operative ends of the said jaws for urging the jaws to closed position against the said work, the said cable bearing downwardly against the top of the said work when engaged by the operative ends of the said jaws.

2. In a handling device for heavy beams, and the like, a pair of opposingly arranged jaws having adjustable grips comprising set screws having concave inner faces arranged in their fiukes adapted to engage the surface of a beam, the said jaws being pivoted at their upper ends and connected by a frame structure, a cable supporting the device having its ends attached to the said pivots and arranged around pulleys rotatably mounted near the operative ends of the said jaws and adapted to urge the jaws toward the work and at once bear against the upper surface of the said work when the latter is engaged by the said jaws.

3. In a handling device for heavy beams, and the like, a grappling assembly comprising a pair of opposingly arranged jaws pivoted at their upper ends and connected by a frame structure, pulleys arranged near the lower operative ends of the said jaws, adjustable grips comprising screws having concave inner surfaces arranged through the operative ends of the said jaws and in substantially vertical relationship thereto, a supporting cable having its ends connected to the said pivots and arranged through each of the said jaws and around the said pulleys and adapted to urge the said jaws toward each other and into engagement with the work and bear against the upper surface thereof while the said grips engage undersurfaces of the said work.

4. In a handling device for steel construction beams, the combination of parallel members. sleeves separating the said members and bolts securing the said sleeves and the said members. a pair of hooks pivoted to the said bolts, adjustable gripping lugs positioned within the flukes of the said hooks for engagement with the material to be lifted, pulleys mounted within the said hooks between the said pivot points and the said flukes, a cable attached to the said sleeves and enclosing the said pulleys adapted to urge the said jaws against the work and coincidentally bear upon the said work.

DANIEL J. SULLIVAN. 

